Team weeps for a mate

HIS dad called him his hero. His football team wept for him. At 18, Andrew Meers was too young to die.

Hundreds gathered yesterday to celebrate the Caboolture Snakes player’s life – and to be painfully reminded that our winding, rural roads show no mercy – especially on a rainy night.

There was not a dry eye in the place as Andrew’s heartbroken dad Glenn told of how he lived his life through his son before he was taken when his car crashed into a tree near Woodford three days before Christmas.

“Andrew, you are my hero,” he told the service.

A day after the crash, Mr Meers bravely spoke to the Daily, urging motorists to drive safely these holidays.

He said his son was just “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

The Meers family has been comforted by the fact that more than 1900 have joined a Facebook tribute page for Andrew, who was described as someone who worked hard on and off the field, was respectful of others and always had a smile on his face.

At yesterday’s service, his coach of three years Alan Gordon told of some of the antics from his days of playing for the Snakes while his boss from McDonald’s said an annual award for workers would be named the “Meersy” in honour of the popular shift manager.

Andrew’s cousin Lucinda Hopkins told of the special place the teenager had in their family, and what an uplifting person he had been.

His uncle Donald Keith read out a personal tribute on behalf of Andrew’s girlfriend Jess and his sister April, at the Great Northern Garden of Remembrance in Deception Bay.

Mr Meers relayed the news that Matthew Young, who was also in the crash, was improving though he remained in a critical condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital.